Invterview with Loren from Plank Walk

Mike: OK Loren, so you do vocals for Plank Walk. Can I get a quick rundown of your bands history including releases/planned releases?

Loren: I don't even know where to start. Plank Walk consists of Joey and Devin on guitar, Eddie on bass, Jeff on drums, and me on vocal duties. Most of us had been in bands before, so we all pretty much joined together because we wanted to play fast. Since summer 2007, we've been playing shows, gone through 2 drummers (Nick and Trevor) and have 2 demos under our belt (demo 2007 and the Bigfoot demo). As of right now we're going to demo some new songs DIY and hopefully go into a real studio sometime in early 09.

M: The majority of your band mates(including yourself) were in Challenge, which is no longer active. Would you say that Plank Walk evolved from Challenge?

L: For the record, Challenge is on hiatus and unfortunately gets sort of a bad rep. No one really got to hear us when I started writing the riffs. We sound different compared to all the old shitty and ridiculous recordings. Anyways, I had the idea for Plank Walk back when I was in Challenge. I told Nick (singer of Challenge) I wanted to start a new band where I would sing and have him play drums.It just took some time for it to actually happen. I guess it did sort of evolve because of the fact that all current members of Challenge are in Plank Walk but I feel both bands are completely different. Besides the sound and lyrical content, I feel Plank Walk is definitely something more. We're all actually good friends. The OG Challenge line-up (without Devin and Jeff) was pretty much random dudes put together for a band where as Plank Walk is best friends wanting to have fun. I really like all the guys in Plank Walk. Hopefully I answered your question.

M: That sounds awesome. There is definitely awesome vibes about a band that consists of all friends. Do you feel that's represented in you're bands performance?

L: Definitely. As of lately our stage presence has been on point. I guess I should mention for a while it was sort of weak. Mainly because of me haha. For a while I had weird stage fright. When we first started playing shows we played really hard but then after a while I started to face away from the crowd. I had weird insecurities and just found comfort in facing the wall. I'm over it now though. It was just weird to think of all the people staring at you. I think what made it worse was me assuming no one was into us. I don't really give a fuck now though. It's definitely one of the greatest feelings in the world to be gigging with your best friends. It's all smiles. Haha, oh yeah I even thought of another defensive mechanism besides facing the wall when battling stage fright. I wear contacts, so I thought about wearing my glasses to shows and just taking them off when we played. I'm near sighted so all I would see is blurry faces. I swear I'm fine now though.

M: Oh wow, that glasses shit is ridiculous. Did you try to model yourself after any other front man, punk or non punk?

L: No, I don't model myself from anyone but if I wanted people to compare me to someone, I would hope they would think of Rufio from that Spielberg joint Hook. BANGARANG.

M: Hook and Plank Walk, eh? I see we have a pirate aficionado on our hands.

L: Haha yeah. I can't remember exactly why Plank Walk is the band name. I guess we couldn't think of anything else.

M: So hows your home scene right now?

L: We don't really follow our local scene. There are shows here but it's pretty much stuff we're not really into. I'm glad there is a some sort of a music scene though.

M: Well that sounds lame. No hometown love for pw?

L: Other than our group of friends and some locals, I'd say not really. I think kids were way more into Challenge instead of Plank Walk.

M: Well Modesto needs to wise the fuck up.

Plank Walk Links:
Myspace
Demo 2007
Bigfoot Demo
Merch